GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF NORTHEAST INDIANA INC

GOODWILL WAS FOUNDED IN 1902 IN BOSTON, MA BY REV. EDGAR J. HELMS, A METHODIST MINISTER AND EARLY SOCIAL INNOVATOR. THE GOODWILL CAN TRACE ITS FORT WAYNE ROOTS BACK TO 1936, WHEN REVEREND HELMS PROPOSED A FEDERATION OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AGENCIES ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA. THE FORT WAYNE GOODWILL WAS INCORPORATED AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH THE INDIANA SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1937 AND OPENED ITS DOORS ON JANUARY 3, 1938. LOCALLY HEADQUARTERED IN FORT WAYNE, GOODWILL EMPOWERS AND PREPARES PEOPLE FOR INDEPENDENCE THROUGH TRAINING, PERSONAL GROWTH AND WORK. WE BELIEVE THAT WORK IS THE KEY FACTOR IN THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE DESIRABLE LIFE OUTCOMES. GOODWILL IS OPERATING UNDER ITS ELEVENTH CONSECUTIVE 3-YEAR ACCREDITATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES (CARF) FOR COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND JOB DEVELOPMENT. VALUING COLLABORATION, GOODWILL WORKS WITH THE STATE DIVISION OF DISABILITY & REHABILITATION SERVICES; TRANSITION PARTNERS OF NORTHEAST INDIANA; MULTIPLE NORTHEAST INDIANA SCHOOL SYSTEMS; INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES; DELL; WALGREENS REDI PROGRAM; GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL; AND THE UNITED STATES PROBATION & PRETRIAL SERVICES, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA. GOODWILL COMPLIES WITH MANDATED EEOC AND INDIANA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION REGULATIONS AND INTERNAL CULTURAL COMPETENCY STANDARDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. PARTNERING WITH AGENCIES ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA (OPPORTUNITY ENTERPRISES, LOGAN COMMUNITY RESOURCES, PATHFINDERS AND CORVILLA), GOODWILL PROVIDED PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES TO YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES AGES 14-22 IN 2024. GOODWILL'S SERVICE AREA COVERS 9 NORTHEAST INDIANA COUNTIES-ALLEN, ADAMS, DEKALB, HUNTINGTON, LAGRANGE, NOBLE, STEUBEN, WELLS, PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING AND JOBS FOR PEOPLE WHO FACE BARRIERS TO FINDING AND KEEPING A JOB, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED EDUCATION OR WORK HISTORY. GOODWILL'S MISSION IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ALL WITH ONE GOAL-TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER DISADVANTAGES BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCTIVE, AND INDEPENDENT. GOODWILL RELIES UPON THE SALES OF DONATED ITEMS TO CREATE JOBS AND FUND OUR PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, DISADVANTAGES, AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. IN FACT, APPROXIMATELY 92-CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR IS REINVESTED BACK INTO OUR NORTHEAST INDIANA COMMUNITY THROUGH JOBS, SERVICES AND PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSE. SIMPLY PUT, DONATIONS HELP GOODWILL CREATE JOBS AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, AND WE BELIEVE THAT WORK HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES. MORE THAN 3,299,000 POUNDS OF DONATED TEXTILES, SHOES, CARDBOARD, BOOKS AND OTHER GOODS UNSUITABLE FOR SALE IN THE GOODWILL STORES WERE REPURPOSED OR RECYCLED AND KEPT OUT OF THE WASTE STREAM. GOODWILL HAS BEEN A PIONEER OF THE "REDUCE, REUSE, REPURPOSE" PRACTICE OF UNWANTED, BUT STILL USABLE, ITEMS TO HELP CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT. NEARLY 48,000 POUNDS OF METAL PRODUCTS WERE RECYCLED AND DIVERTED FROM AREA LANDFILLS IN 2024.